Steve Alexander

Offseason Beat

Will Cavs Take Irving No. 1?

The Sixers would love to see one of the top centers take a fall to 16 so they could get a possible replacement for duds like Spencer Hawes, Tony Battie and Marreese Speights, but a pick this low won't get it done – at least as of now. Andre Iguodala always feels a step closer to a departure out of Philly and Thompson has the potential to replace him down the line, although shot selection could be an early issue for him.

The Knicks could use a center, but can also slide Amare Stoudemire there and play a real power forward. They've got one in Shelden Williams, but it's pretty clear he should not be starting in the NBA. Morris is ready for the NBA, is going to be a nice rookie and reminds me a bit of Greg Monroe, who was a very pleasant surprise this season. As of right now, No. 17 feels right for him, but I wouldn't be surprised if I have him in the Top 10 by Draft Day. The Knicks need a big man who can score besides Stoudemire and I think they will have a steal on their hands if they can get Morris this late.

The Wizards are set with three young guards and a couple solid big men, but as I stated earlier, are lacking at small forward. It wouldn't surprise me to see them use both of their first-round picks on that position. And Singleton has the potential to be another Josh Smith or Gerald Wallace, which I'm pretty sure would make John Wall and company happy. I think he's another potential steal for such a late pick in this draft.

This 6-10 big man can score, rebound, block shots and steal the ball, and the Bobcats need more bigs. He's been extremely efficient in Europe and while there's a chance he won't still be on the board this late, I think Michael Jordan would take the bait if he is.

Smith is a combo guard and it's still unknown whether he can be turned into a real NBA point guard given his turnover issues. But he was able to run Duke's offense when Kyrie Irving was out and played well enough last season to be a lock for a first-round pick. The Timberwolves have a thing for point guards, and if Ricky Rubio isn't coming to America, Smith is a guy they'll look at. The Wolves also have a bit of a hole at shooting guard, making him look like an even more logical choice with this pick.

With all the Blazers' centers on the verge of their next knee surgery, LaMarcus Aldridge has been playing a lot more center than they planned on. Gerald Wallace is getting to old to play much more power forward, making Harper a good fit in Portland. While he's truly a power forward, he's one of the best shooters in this draft, if not the best, and his jumper, combined with his size and strength, are going to be NBA assets. His game also seems to suit what the Blazers need and he looks like a great fit.

The Nuggets are still looking to find a replacement for Carmelo Anthony, although Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler should have solid futures in Denver. Their true need is power forward, making Justin Harper and Morris solid options. Morris is not as good as his twin brother, Marcus, just yet, but he's not too far away. He's already got NBA size (6-10, 235) and is a physical rebounder, but can also knock down an 18-footer if left open. Kenyon Martin is (literally) on his last leg and Chris Andersen isn't getting any younger. Morris looks like a great fit in Denver.

23. Rockets (via Magic) - Kyle Singler SF Duke

We had Jeff Taylor going here, but he's decided to return to Vandy. So in his place, we're slotting Duke forward Kyle Singler in his spot. He's a borderline first-rounder at this point, due to his 'tweener status and lack of athleticism, but could easily be taken this high if workouts go well.

Leslie might be the best athlete in the draft and is a dunk highlight reel waiting to happen. There are questions about his outside shooting, and while the Thunder could really use someone to hit threes, Leslie would be an excellent replacement for Jeff Green, whom they traded to the Celtics this year. He won't see much playing time in OKC due to playing behind the guy who led the league in scoring for the second straight year, but given time to develop, could turn into a very solid (and exciting) NBA player at some point in the future.

Jackson showed an improved jumper last season and would make for a nice-sized point guard at 6-3. He has shown playmaking skills and is unselfish, while also able to play off the ball. The Celtics have many needs as one of the oldest teams in the league, but getting another guard who could play both spots makes sense.

Dirk Nowitzki isn't getting any younger and the Mavericks would be wise to get a young PF they can start grooming for the future. Thompkins had a nice season at UGA, averaging 16.4 points, 7.6 boards and 1.7 blocks per game. The knock on him is that he isn't all that athletic and didn't show much improvement last year, but he's a guy that could stick in the NBA as he learns how to play the game.

Jenkins played in mere obscurity for Hofstra over the last four years, but is a dynamic scorer and the true definition of a sleeper pick. He may not end up being taken in Round 1, but we're guessing after teams get to know him via workouts, his stock will rise.

Selby has all kinds of potential but hasn't really lived up to the hype as of yet. The Bulls are lacking at shooting guard, which is really their only glaring need. They've got time to wait, as they certainly didn't struggle with a hole at the 2 during the regular season.

At 6-8, 210 he's going to be an undersized power forward, but can shoot it well enough that he might be able to play some small forward in the NBA. Gregg Popovich doesn't seem to trust DeJuan Blair and they've got plenty of young talent in the backcourt. Richard Jefferson will have to be replaced at some point, and Harris wouldn't be a bad place to start.

He was the best scorer in the Big Ten and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. He averaged 20.5 points, 8.6 boards and 2.3 blocks per game and would learn a lot playing behind Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. He may fall into Round 2, but I bet he performs well in workouts and ends up in the first round. Here's an update to our first NBA mock draft of the year. Harrison Barnes is out, Tristan Thompson is in, and I moved several players around. The NBA Draft takes place on June 23.

Here's the fourth update to our first NBA mock draft of the year. The latest news is that the Cavaliers won the Draft Lottery on Tuesday, securing the No. 1 and No. 4 picks.

With some help from owner Dan Gilbert's son, Nick, the Cavaliers turned their trade of Mo Williams for Baron Davis into Davis AND Kyrie Irving by landing the No. 1 pick. I still think they'll take Irving, as he currently looks like the No. 1 pick, hands down. That could change between now and draft day, but my early money is on Irving. He's the best point guard in the draft and while he's not as fast as Derrick Rose or John Wall, he's quick enough to keep defenses honest and is considered by most as the clear first pick this year. The Cavs already have Baron Davis, but he's far from reliable, while his career is also starting to wind down. If they decide to pass on Irving, which seems unlikely at this point, Derrick Williams would be the next logical selection. As for Ramon Sessions, who can also play point guard? If they take Irving, expect Sessions to be traded on draft night.

Williams could go over Irving at No. 1, but as of now, we're guessing he ends up in Minnesota. Unfortunately, they've already got Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, but Williams would have time to develop off the bench in Minnesota, and appears to be the only option they have at No. 2. Then again, David Kahn is running the show, which means anything is possible here.

Walker became a household name during the NCAA tournament and while his size is an issue (6-feet, 180 pounds), plenty of other small men have succeeded in today's NBA. Think Brandon Jennings. And with Devin Harris often banged up, and his backups (Earl Watson & Ronnie Price) aren't great NBA point guards. Walker looks like a solid pick for the Jazz here. They could also go with Enes Kanter here, but my guess is they grab a guard and then try to get another big man with the No. 12 pick, which they also own.

After taking Irving with the first pick, the Cavs will look for a small forward to get ready to eventually take over for Antawn Jamison. Vesely fits the bill and makes a ton of sense for the Cavs here. Vesely might be a bit of a reach this high, and it's possible the Cavs could take a shooting guard. But No. 4 overall is probably too high for Alec Burks, so it makes sense they'll go with Vesely. Center Enes Kanter is also a real possibility here, as the Cavs rely on a couple power forwards (Anderson Varejao & J.J. Hickson) at center.

The Jazz could take Brandon Knight at No. 3, which would leave the Raptors with Kemba Walker here, but either way, it makes sense the Raps would look for a back up for Jose Calderon at point guard. They also have Jerryd Bayless, but Knight looks like a great way to spend this pick. And once again, if they're finally done with using Andrea Bargnani at center, they will also give Enes Kanter a serious look.

With Samuel Dalembert and DeMarcus Cousins, along with several other bigs, potentially on board again next year, the Kings don't really need a center. In fact, what they really need is a small forward, which has long been a hole in their offense. But the lottery wasn't kind to the Kings and Kanter still looks like the pick here. Then the Kings could potentially make a trade in order to get a starting small forward. We really haven't had a chance to see Kanter much, as he was ruled ineligible to play for Kentucky after receiving more than $30,000 from his Turkish team. Kanter ended up serving as a student assistant coach at UK. He's 6-11, 265, meaning he clearly has the size to play center in the NBA. Many mock drafts have Kanter going at No. 3 or No. 4, and we could end up with him there before next month's draft. But for now, we like some of these guards coming off the board before Kanter.

Burks is a true shooting guard and with the future of Rip Hamilton up in the air, as well as the constant struggles of Ben Gordon, getting a shooting guard (or small forward) makes sense for Detroit. Burks might be a reach at No. 8, but the Pistons could easily roll the dice on him.

The Cats seem to be set at PG (D.J. Augustin), SG (Gerald Henderson), SF (Stephen Jackson) and PF (Boris Diaw/Tyrus Thomas), but they start Kwame Brown at center. That's obviously a problem, although Kwame actually exceeded some expectations for the first time in his career in the second half of this season. If Kanter or Valanciunas are gone, this seems like the perfect spot for little known Bismack Biyombo of the Congo. He's got points/rebounds/blocks triple-double potential and a relatively simple buyout from his professional team, clearing the way for him to play in the NBA once the lockout issues are resolved.

Motiejunas surprisingly pulled out of last year's draft and then tore it up in the Italian league this season. He's a great shooter, both from the floor and beyond the arc, and appears to be one of the more NBA-ready players in the draft. The Bucks have become somewhat famous for taking guys like Motiejunas and turning them into players worthy of being owned in fantasy leagues. And while it won't happen this year, he could be a solid option in a couple years.

The Warriors have both David Lee and Ekpe Udoh, but clearly don't need any backcourt help at this point. Small forward is probably their greatest need and it's possible they reach for a guy like Jordan Hamilton, but Thompson is too good not to be a lottery pick. And the Warriors could certainly use another big body around, as Andris Biedrins was MIA for most of the season.

Faried has a great nose for the ball, is one of the best rebounders in college history and will dive for loose balls without hesitation. Hustle is a word that best describes him and the Suns could use a rebounding power forward to complement the 3-point shooting of Channing Frye.

Like Alec Burks, Hamilton is a smooth scorer and plays best when he's the main cog in a team's offense. That means it could take him a while to get going in the pros, but he might be the best pure shooter in the draft, and his quick release will be a key to his success in the pros. The Rockets have some needs at the wing and Hamilton makes sense – especially since he's already in Texas.

The Pacers actually have a well-rounded team with solid players at most positions, with shooting guard being the most obvious need. Mike Dunleavy hasn't been healthy, Brandon Rush hasn't lived up to the hype, Paul George is more forward than guard, and Dahntay Jones was locked up like the gimp in Pulp Fiction until Frank Vogel finally unleashed him in the playoffs. Jimmer is a household name, would fit in well in the heartland and might even sell some tickets for the team that allowed Bulls fans to take over Conseco and basically give Chicago an extra home game in the first round of the playoffs. He's an amazing shooter and could easily end up as a starting shooting guard in the NBA (if he's for real).

The Sixers would love to see one of the top centers take a fall to 16 so they could get a possible replacement for duds like Spencer Hawes, Tony Battie and Marreese Speights, but a pick this low won't get it done – at least as of now. Andre Iguodala always feels a step closer to a departure out of Philly and Thompson has the potential to replace him down the line, although shot selection could be an early issue for him.

The Knicks could use a center, but can also slide Amare Stoudemire there and play a real power forward. They've got one in Shelden Williams, but it's pretty clear he should not be starting in the NBA. Morris is ready for the NBA, is going to be a nice rookie and reminds me a bit of Greg Monroe, who was a very pleasant surprise this season. As of right now, No. 17 feels right for him, but I wouldn't be surprised if I have him in the Top 10 by Draft Day. The Knicks need a big man who can score besides Stoudemire and I think they will have a steal on their hands if they can get Morris this late.

The Wizards are set with three young guards and a couple solid big men, but as I stated earlier, are lacking at small forward. It wouldn't surprise me to see them use both of their first-round picks on that position. And Singleton has the potential to be another Josh Smith or Gerald Wallace, which I'm pretty sure would make John Wall and company happy. I think he's another potential steal for such a late pick in this draft.

This 6-10 big man can score, rebound, block shots and steal the ball, and the Bobcats need more bigs. He's been extremely efficient in Europe and while there's a chance he won't still be on the board this late, I think Michael Jordan would take the bait if he is.

Smith is a combo guard and it's still unknown whether he can be turned into a real NBA point guard given his turnover issues. But he was able to run Duke's offense when Kyrie Irving was out and played well enough last season to be a lock for a first-round pick. The Timberwolves have a thing for point guards, and if Ricky Rubio isn't coming to America, Smith is a guy they'll look at. The Wolves also have a bit of a hole at shooting guard, making him look like an even more logical choice with this pick.

With all the Blazers' centers on the verge of their next knee surgery, LaMarcus Aldridge has been playing a lot more center than they planned on. Gerald Wallace is getting to old to play much more power forward, making Harper a good fit in Portland. While he's truly a power forward, he's one of the best shooters in this draft, if not the best, and his jumper, combined with his size and strength, are going to be NBA assets. His game also seems to suit what the Blazers need and he looks like a great fit.

The Nuggets are still looking to find a replacement for Carmelo Anthony, although Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler should have solid futures in Denver. Their true need is power forward, making Justin Harper and Morris solid options. Morris is not as good as his twin brother, Marcus, just yet, but he's not too far away. He's already got NBA size (6-10, 235) and is a physical rebounder, but can also knock down an 18-footer if left open. Kenyon Martin is (literally) on his last leg and Chris Andersen isn't getting any younger. Morris looks like a great fit in Denver.

23. Rockets (via Magic) - Kyle Singler SF Duke

We had Jeff Taylor going here, but he's decided to return to Vandy. So in his place, we're slotting Duke forward Kyle Singler in his spot. He's a borderline first-rounder at this point, due to his 'tweener status and lack of athleticism, but could easily be taken this high if workouts go well.

Leslie might be the best athlete in the draft and is a dunk highlight reel waiting to happen. There are questions about his outside shooting, and while the Thunder could really use someone to hit threes, Leslie would be an excellent replacement for Jeff Green, whom they traded to the Celtics this year. He won't see much playing time in OKC due to playing behind the guy who led the league in scoring for the second straight year, but given time to develop, could turn into a very solid (and exciting) NBA player at some point in the future.

Jackson showed an improved jumper last season and would make for a nice-sized point guard at 6-3. He has shown playmaking skills and is unselfish, while also able to play off the ball. The Celtics have many needs as one of the oldest teams in the league, but getting another guard who could play both spots makes sense.

Dirk Nowitzki isn't getting any younger and the Mavericks would be wise to get a young PF they can start grooming for the future. Thompkins had a nice season at UGA, averaging 16.4 points, 7.6 boards and 1.7 blocks per game. The knock on him is that he isn't all that athletic and didn't show much improvement last year, but he's a guy that could stick in the NBA as he learns how to play the game.

Jenkins played in mere obscurity for Hofstra over the last four years, but is a dynamic scorer and the true definition of a sleeper pick. He may not end up being taken in Round 1, but we're guessing after teams get to know him via workouts, his stock will rise.

Selby has all kinds of potential but hasn't really lived up to the hype as of yet. The Bulls are lacking at shooting guard, which is really their only glaring need. They've got time to wait, as they certainly didn't struggle with a hole at the 2 during the regular season.

At 6-8, 210 he's going to be an undersized power forward, but can shoot it well enough that he might be able to play some small forward in the NBA. Gregg Popovich doesn't seem to trust DeJuan Blair and they've got plenty of young talent in the backcourt. Richard Jefferson will have to be replaced at some point, and Harris wouldn't be a bad place to start.

He was the best scorer in the Big Ten and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. He averaged 20.5 points, 8.6 boards and 2.3 blocks per game and would learn a lot playing behind Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. He may fall into Round 2, but I bet he performs well in workouts and ends up in the first round. Here's an update to our first NBA mock draft of the year. Harrison Barnes is out, Tristan Thompson is in, and I moved several players around. The NBA Draft takes place on June 23.

Steve "Dr. A" Alexander is the senior editor for the NBA for Rotoworld.com and a contributor to NBCSports.com. The 2014-15 NBA season marks his 13th year of covering fantasy hoops for Rotoworld. Follow him on Twitter - @Docktora.Email :Steve Alexander